Pressure-transmitting shield for the outer surface of a collapsible tube



May 1, 1951 2 551,176

W. SMITH PRESSURE-TRANSMITTING SHIELD FOR THE OUTER SURFACE OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed May 12, 1949 Inventor William Smith WWW Patented May 1, 1951 PRESSURE-TRAN SMITTIN G SHIELD FOR THE OUTER SURFACE OF A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE r William Smith, Sharon, Pa. I 2 Application May 12, 1949, Serial No. 92,816

2 Claims. (01.222-405) Thi invention appertains to novel and useful improvements in shields for use in connection with collapsible tubes, such as tooth paste, shaving cream, medication, and similar conventional tubes.

An object of this invention is to prevent localizing the force applied to a conventional tube and to distribute the force over a larger area of the tube by means of a flexible shield which is inserted over the upper end of the tube but which cannot pass over the lower end of the tube, thereby maintaining it in place on the tube.

Another object of this invention is to apply force on a tube in such a manner that the life of the actual tube is increased by the prevention of wrinkles in the tube through the medium of a non-rigid guard which encircles at least a part of the tube, the force being applied directly to the guard or shield and transmitted throughout a slightly larger area on the tube surface.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become more apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred forms of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention, showing the same in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shield shown in Figure 1 but separated from the tube;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the shield;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another type shield, it differing from that shown in Figure 3 in that it is smaller; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a tube and a portion of a typical shield showing the same in use.

Various metallic devices of the general nature disclosed herewith are well known in the art. These devices are used in several capacities. One is the use of a metallic or substantially non-rigid plastic material which has an opening therein so that the lower end of the tube may be passed therethrough. Another well known type of device is the resilient one which is made of a pair of leaves integrally connected together so that upon pressing one of the leaves the tube which is disposed therebetween is squeezed between them.

My invention differs from the others, to the best of my knowledge, in that I have provided a completely flexible shield which is in no way rigid in the sense of a metallic device. My invention involves devices which are disposable after '2 a single use involving the discharge of all of the material from one tube.

Referring to Figure 2, there is illustrated a sleeve-like tubular shield H! which has an open lower end I2 and an open upper end [4. The material of construction of the shield I0 is one of the so-called commercial plastics, that is, it is a phenolic condensate or other'material having the characteristics of flexibility and non-rigidity.

One dimension of the shield I0 is such that the lower end l2 passes over the oval upper end It of the tube but will not pass over the substantially fiat lower end folded portion I8 thereof. In order to conform properly and gracefully to the shape of the tube, the upper edges 20 and 22 of the tube are smoothly curved and arcuate in shape but may be other shapes.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 wherein the shield 24 is made from a piece of flat stock of the same material as the sleeve-like shield l0 in Figure 2. The longitudinal free edges of the device in Figure 3 are joined together by any suitable means such as the pressure sensitive adhesive tape 26. The only differentiating feature between the device shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 3 i in the condition of the stock from which the devices are made. One is of tubular, continuous material, while the other is made from flat stock and joined at the free longitudinal edges by the tape 26 but capable of being opened to a tubular shape.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the shield 28 is joined by means of tape 30 at the free edges thereof and is made of stock similar to that used in connection with the manufacture of the article shown in Figure 3. The smoothly curved edges 32 of that modification shown in Figure 4 and the smoothly curved edges 36 of that modification shown in Figure 3 serve the same purpose as the edges 2!] and 22, respectively.

In use of the device, it is inserted over the upper end I6 of the tube and pushed downwardly until the edges of the shield defining the lower open end, engage the material of the tube adjacent or the actual fiat folded end 18 of the tube, thereby forming a stop. This prevents the device from sliding over the lower end of the tube, thereby holding it in the proper position. In use of the smaller size forms, they are moved upwardly as the tube becomes increasingly exhausted of its supply of material.

In the prior art, leverage applied on the tube in various Ways isthe keynote. My invention differs in that itis flexible and conforms to the shape of the tube whether the tube is full or empty, providing a smooth surface for applying pressure with the fingers, rather than directly on the walls of the tube. In addition, it provides a guard to prevent premature distortion of the unused portion of the tube.

It is apparent that certain variations, such as changes in size, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. A device for use on a flexible tube having a substantially fiat, folded portion at its lower end and an oval upper end, said device comprising a tubular shield made substantially entirely of a flexible material and having open upper and lower ends, said shield being of such a crosssectional dimension that it can pass over the oval upper end of the tube and the edge at the lower end of said shield engaging said folded .portion of the tube at the lower end of the tube,

and said folded portion constituting a stop to prevent passing of the lower end of the shield over the fiat, folded portion at the lower end of the tube.

2. A device for use on a flexible tube having a substantially fiat, folded portion at its lower end and an oval upper end, said device comprising a tubular shield made substantially entirely of a flexible material and provided with a base having open upper and lower ends, said shield being of such a cross-sectional dimension that it can pass over the oval upper end of the tube and the edge at the lower end of said shield engaging said folded portion of the tube at the lower end of the tube, said folded portion constituting a stop to prevent passing of the lower end of the shield over the fiat, folded portion at the lower end of the tube, and the open upper end of the shield having smoothly curved arcuate edges for conforming to the outer surface of the tube adjacent the discharge end thereof.

WILLIAM SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 863,260 Butterfield Aug. 13, 1907 1,352,355 Cleveland Sept. '7, 1920 25 1,769,065 Lefkowitz July 1, 1930 1,844,215 Edwards Feb. 9, 1932 2,076,048 Seelman Apr. 6, 1937 

